July 19th Meeting Recap

By: Lou Ellen Wilson
​Recap of Board of Commissioners for Charlotte County special meeting held on July 19th –               Agenda – Manasota Key/Don Pedro-Knights Island Beach Renourishment MSBU
Commissioners unanimously approved the MSBU rates per the notice mailed to all property owners. (If you did not get same, please contact the County Commission Supervisor’s Office
Total Cost approximately $25M –  Funds to be provided as follows:
State – 39% (funds have to be approved by the State Legislature)
Charlotte County – 37% (already approved)
Property Owners – 24%     (All owners within EACH defined MSBU will be assessed  a Recreational Use Fee plus owners with beach front property will have an additional assessment  according to lot size and beach frontage – reference your notice for exact amount for your property.   If you disagree with assessment calculation on your notice contact the Supervisor’s office)   Monies collected  for each MSBU will be NOT be co-mingled.

Interesting Facts:
a. Renourishment cannot move forward without State Funding – asked for resident’s support of the bill when it comes before the legislative session in January 2019.
b.Sarasota County Commissioners have agreed to file a joint request with Charlotte County – making it a regional request, thus improve it chances of passing.
c.Funds have been requested from the Federal Government but they are not available at this time
d.Funding is for an 8 year period – if sand is washed away by a hurricane, based on the new studies/permits,  FEMA will insure replacement of all sand in accordance with the approved design.
e.Renourishment is scheduled for December 2019 thru May 2020.
f.Dredging of Stump Pass is NOT included in the proposed MSBU funding.
g.Included in the funding is $7 million for the Federal requirement that  of an area of hard bottom in the gulf be renourished with sand – this requires the “planting” of lime stone blocks.
h.Private versus Public Ownership of Beach:  In February 2019 an Erosion Control Line (ECL) will be established on all beach front properties – All property in front of the line to the water will be for public use/all property behind the line will be owner’s private property.  Beach renourishment sand will only be placed in the public portion.     There will be notice of a public meeting regarding the new ECL before it is established/approved.

Questions from Manasota Key Residents:  Approximately 40 – main topics
a.Private versus public use of the beach – including parking issues.
b.Request that business pay a larger portion of the funding versus home owners
c.Request that surrounding business in the area; i.e.,  marinas/restaurants on the east side of the intercoastal waterway be included in the MSBU

Questions from Knights Island/Don Pedro Residents:
a. Request that sand for the renourishment be dredged from the canals/lagoon to save money – explained that this sand did not match sand currently on the beach per Federal requirements for size, color and quality.
b.Thornton Key property owners requested they be exempted from  the MSBU as they did not have access to the beach.
Request that non-buildable lots be exempt as well as lots owned by the Conservancy